ChillScape
Soothing sonic meditation
Free From Studio Amplify, studioamplify.com
Made for iPhone, iPad Needs iOS 10.0 or later
Meditation has taken off in a big way in recent years, with recent scientific research backing up claims that it can not only help people improve their concentration skills, but also reduce stress levels. ChillScape plays on the latter theme by combining AI–generated music with soothing graphics in order to induce a calming state in the user. Each chill session starts out with womb–like low pitched tones, and these begin to merge with subtle melodies generated as you pop bubbles that emerge out of a solar–like center in space. Underneath the layers of sound is a soft ‘pulse’ that gradually slows from 60 to 50 beats per minute through the session.
Inspired by a field of cognitive psychology that uses sound therapy to regulate mood, the developers say that breath and body naturally try to follow the rhythm of each session, with the effect of regulating mood, slowing heart rate, reducing blood pressure, and lowering stress hormone levels over time. We can’t vouch for all of these claims, but the combination of touch, sight and sound is soothing in itself. As you progress with the app, the generative audio evolves to produce new sounds, and the more sessions you complete each day, the better your ‘chill streak’. You can also adjust the session duration to fit your daily routine, which is another good reason to take that well–earned time out, in our book.
the bottom line. An elegant, soothing combination of touch, sight, and sound. Tim Hardwick